Utah Attorney General Tweets Execution By Firing Squad

The State of Utah’s June 18 execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner broke ground in American history as the first execution by firing squad in 14 years and as the first to be ‘tweeted’ across the world by the attorney general who approved the final stage of death.

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff used his Apple iPhone to confirm that he had given permission to execute the two-time convicted murderer by publishing a live update on the Twitter account, #MarkShurtleff:

“I just gave the go ahead to Corrections Director to proceed with Gardner’s execution. May God grant him the mercy he denied his victims.”

The decision to publish the ‘tweets’ online has evoked some staunch criticism of both Shurtleff and the practice of capital punishment in general.

Twitter users and online news consumers have compared America to third world dictatorships, where executions by firing squad would be permitted under elements of the law.

One online commentator claimed, “The death penalty is the greatest blot on the world’s greatest nation.”

Others have directed their disgust at Attorney General Shurtleff, referring to him as “repulsive” and “perverse.”